Reddit user u/zhalia-2006 decided to ask: “What food was the biggest disappointment once you tried it?” Some of the responses fellow Redditors offered will surprise. Others will just make you nod your head slowly in silent agreement…
After reading the whole post, I had to agree with many of the commenters. But it was their descrip-tions of their ‘disappointing’ experiences I found most instructive – and amusing!
All well-known foods…
All the foods and products chosen for the ‘disappointment’ list were either well-known UPFs, classics or – yes – items some folks consider culinary treasures!
I’ve chosen a few of the more notable listees, including a quote from each reviewer. And an indica-tion of my own opinion…
Here we go…
Pop Tarts
“I spent my entire childhood wondering what they tasted like. […] Big disappointment. I was not mis-sing out on anything.”
Maggie’s take: Agree. But they do develop some flavour if you heat them. Dry, they are like cardboard.
Dragon Fruit (see photo, top of page)
“Looks cool, tastes like nothing. It’s probably better in the tropics.”
Maggie’s take: I wonder if this person actually tasted Dragon Fruit or some other (bland) tropical fruit? I love it. Just can’t accord it anymore…
Turkish Delight
“Like, it was fine-ish, but…”
Maggie’s take: It’s an ancient and delectable Middle Eastern street food treat. Sure, it’s just a simple gel of flavoured starch and sugar dusted with powdered sugar. But it’s magical! I love it!
Caviar
“It tasted exactly like salty jelly and was ridiculously expensive.”
Maggie’s take: Strongly agree. It’s one of those foods that, like bleu cheese and Natto (Japanese fermented beans) is commonly excused by fans as ‘an acquired taste’.
Twinkies
“They’re in so many American movies, I thought they’d taste good. They’re actually bloody awful.”
Maggie’s take: Deducing from the reviewer’s use of the pejorative ‘bloody’, I’ll venture that they were either Brit or (more likely?) Australian. I can see why non-Americans might find Twinkies disappoint-ing. I wouldn’t go out of my way for one.
Lobster
“Why people lose their minds over it is beyond me.”
Maggie’s take: Well, I DO know why folks love it. But you have to drench it in melted butter, give it a good pinch of salt, and know how to use a pair of claw crackers to truly enjoy Lobster.
Froot loops
“My kids had American Froot Loops and spat them out because they were ‘so yucky, Mummy’.”
Maggie’s take: Another Brit reviewer, perhaps? Definitely not North American. American kids eat them by the ton. But I tried them once on a dare and found them tooth-rattling sweet with ‘Froot’ flavours which I can only describe as ‘chemical’.
Fugu
“Blandest fish I’ve ever eaten.”
Maggie’s take: I’ve never tried it. Because there’s a good chance you could die painfully within half an hour of ingesting even a small taste. It’s the Japanese raw Puffer Fish preparation, ordered in the poshest restos there by the ridiculously rich and/or famous to show off their wealth. And their courage.
Truffles
“They taste like feet.”
Maggie’s take: You’re not supposed to eat them all by themselves, for themselves! They may be the ultimate natural expression of umami. A light grating or a very thin slice goes a long way. No, all the way! Some classic dishes just aren’t the same without them. Ideally, you taste the umami effect of truffles in a dish, and not the fungus itself…
My (overall) take
I have very little to add to my in situ comments on the individual foods above. But I must take a mo-ment to enlarge a bit on the angle that folks who hated – downright despised – some of the foods listed were apparently not raised in the cultures where those foods are popular. Even considered classic. Some of the foods most demonized by the reviewers (caviar, and truffles, for example) are actually considered culinary treasures in their places of origin.
I’ll taper-off this post with the observation that ‘acquired tastes’ need only be ‘acquired’ by folks who didn’t grow up with them…
~ Maggie J.